"I'm starting to miss the hysterical version of the Director—!!"
"That's odd. Is the vaccine not working?"
Back at Chaldea, things were just as "Gudaguda" as ever.
—And so.
"A-ha, you finally caught up, did ya?"
The Oda group, fuming with battle spirit, finally caught up to the "Big Brother" after his blatant retreat.
"Now then, Shimazu or whatever you're called—prepare yourself! I'm not letting you take my head!"
"Yeah... prepare yourselves."
Cu Chulainn smirked.
"—Because you're the ones who are finished."
At that moment—
"!? What's happening?!"
With a deafening explosion that shook the very earth, the coastline trembled. Indiscriminate shelling erupted everywhere, sending pillars of sand flying into the air!
"Shelling?! Where from?!"
"Stay calm! Don't break formation! Get back-to-back and protect each other!"
At Hijikata's command, the group immediately covered each other's blind spots, successfully avoiding direct hits.
"This disregard for the durability of Noble Phantasms... A 'Counterfeiter,' I see. How petty."
The King used the Chains of Heaven (Enkidu) to pierce through the "Broken Fantasies" that were on a collision course with Mash and the others, detonating them mid-air as an anti-aircraft defense.
—Fou! Don't leave my side!
(I know. But if you think you're in trouble, you'd better rely on me.)
The two held their ground, ensuring each other's safety.
"Hmph. I suppose it's natural we couldn't make a clean sweep. To think even the Hero King is here..."
Walking forward once the shelling subsided was... Emiya—no, Chosokabe Emichika.
"So it is you. Used by the Counter Force, stuffed into such a bizarre unit... you truly are a convenient actor."
"...I seriously wanted to sit this one out."
"The factor residing in your body... is 'Chosokabe,' I presume."
At the King's words, Hijikata and Okita both twitched.
"Chosokabe... you say?"
"Chosokabe... Tosa?"
"And based on your tactics... Hound, you must be 'Shimazu'?"
As those words were spoken, a terrifying aura—a pure, cold bloodlust—began to rise.
""Shimazu...—""
"Wasn't that a bit careless for you...? No, wait, being careless is your normal state, isn't it? Hmm, which one is more like you? Are you letting your guard down? Are you not?"
Appearing with a look of confusion was Medea—who looked like a pure Lily version but was actually an "Innocent Psycho."
『Medea-dono...!』
Olga Marie reacted. It was no surprise, given they had recently been bonding over fashion tips.
"Oh, what a lovely voice. I'd love to dress you up, yes."
"The difference in our positions is unavoidable. There are as many versions of 'Me' as there are authors. This time, I am the most 'Joyful Me.' But that doesn't matter. That girl over there is your disciple, the one from Chaldea. Mori."
The King saw through the Gudaguda Warlords instantly. His words were chosen with deliberate intent.
—We're surrounded. Preparing to summon God Maarduk and utilize the Sword of Rupture and the Sword of the End...
[Damn it, I have no choice but to blow them away with an 'Armor Cast-Off' kick...!]
"I haven't failed this hard since Kanegasaki... Damn you, Nagamasa..."
Everyone reacted in their own way.
(Note: The Battle of Kanegasaki was Oda Nobunaga's famous retreat. After his brother-in-law Asai Nagamasa betrayed him, Nobunaga was so shocked he initially refused to believe the reports. He eventually fled, shouting, "I'll remember this, you idiot Nagamasa!")
But right now, it wasn't Nobbu's turn. Beside her, two people were refining their bloodlust to a lethal edge.
"Oh, Okita-san's condition is...!?"
"H-Hijji? What's wrong... wabuh!"
Without a word, Okita donned her "Shinsengumi Haori of Oaths." Hijikata threw off his Western-style coat and draped a jet-black haori over his shoulders.
"It was inevitable. Your luck ran out the moment you showed up brandishing the factors of their sworn enemies."
The Hero King smirked. He had read this. He had seen this exact development. That is why he had gone out of his way to name the Warlords.
Shimazu. Mori. Chosokabe.
Satsuma, Choshu, and Tosa.
If you bear the name of the Shinsengumi, there is no way you can let these names pass.
Why?
""UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH—!!!!""
Because a "Satcho-Slaying Machine" is the very essence of the Shinsengumi!!
"Wait, what?! These two are suddenly overflowing with murder-intent?!"
"Satcho must die! No mercy!! Yes, Kondo-san! We'll settle the debt from Toba-Fushimi right here, right now!!"
Leaving her usual airheadedness at the door, Okita glared at Emichika with murderous resolve.
"Even if you tell that to a 'Chosokabe,' it's a bit of a stretch..."
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